Here's a breakdown:

* Cohesion: Water molecules have a strong attraction to each other due to hydrogen bonding. This force pulls them together, creating surface tension.

* Adhesion: Water molecules also have an attraction to the glass surface. This force is called adhesion.

In the case of water and glass:

* Adhesion is stronger than cohesion: The attraction between water molecules and the glass is stronger than the attraction between water molecules themselves.

* Concave meniscus: This stronger adhesion pulls the water molecules upwards along the glass surface, creating a concave meniscus (curved upwards).

Why does this happen?

Imagine water molecules at the edge of the water column touching the glass. They are pulled upwards by the glass, but also pulled sideways by the water molecules next to them.

* Because adhesion is stronger, the upward pull wins, resulting in the water climbing up the glass.

* This creates a concave curve at the surface.

Contrast with mercury:

Mercury, on the other hand, forms a convex meniscus (curved downwards). This is because the cohesive forces between mercury molecules are stronger than the adhesive forces between mercury and glass.

In summary:

The meniscus of water curves upwards due to the stronger adhesive forces between water and glass, pulling the water molecules upwards along the glass surface.